PORT Arcades bosses say they are 'very disappointed' that two cafes in the complex have failed to back their smoking ban.

The shopping centre became officially smoke-free on January 1, even though legislation which prohibits smoking in all public buildings does not come into force until the summer.

However, despite initial support for the venture, both BB's Coffee & Muffins and the National Milk Bar have decided against banning smokers.

A town centre worker, who passes through the Arcades every day, told the Pioneer he was delighted the ban was introduced but says it's 'pointless' if the cafes are going to allow customers to continue puffing.

In a statement the Port Arcades said: 'The decision to implement this policy was made in the summer of 2006 and a great deal of time and effort has been taken in publicising and promoting the policy.

'During this period all tenants within the centre had agreed on a voluntary basis to support the policy and we are very disappointed that a small number have now chosen to disregard the policy at such an early stage.

'While we are not able to enforce the policy on any individual tenants, we are in dialogue with both parties and hope to persuade them to review their current position and support the policy.

'In the meantime, we are actively continuing to promote our non-smoking policy in all areas of the centre which are under our control to ensure we are able to offer our shoppers as clean and smoke free an environment as possible.'

A spokesperson for BB's said the company supported the ban but pulled out because 'other competitors' did not back it.

She added that they were working with management to find a solution.

Bosses at the National Milk Bar said they wanted to give their many customers who smoke more time to get used to the impending ban.

A spokeswoman added that the Mercer Walk cafe would be refurbished in time for the introduction of the no-smoking policy in July.